A Golden Chain

The fifth objection is this. When a man is most near death, then the devil is most busy in temptation, and the more men are assaulted by Satan, the more dangerous & troublesome is their case. And therefore it may seem that the day of death is the worst day of all. Ans. The condition of Gods children in death is twofold. Some are not tempted, and some are. Some I say are not tempted, as Simeon, who when he had seen Christ, brake forth & said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, &c. foresignifying no doubt, that he should end his days in all manner of peace. As for them which are tempted, though their case be very troublesome and perplexed, yet their salvation is not further off, by reason of the violence and extremity of temptation. For God is then present by the unspeakable comfort of his spirit, and when we are most weak, he is most strong in us: because his manner is to show his power in weakness. And for this cause, even in the time of death the devil receives the greatest foil, when he looks for the greatest victory.

The fifth obiection is this. When a man is most neare death, then the deuill is most busie in temptation, and the more men are assaulted by Satan, the more dangerous & troublesome is their case. And therefore it may seeme that the day of death is the worst daie of all. Ans. The condition of Gods childrē in death is twofold. Some are not tempted, and some are. Some I say are not tempted, as Simeon, who when he had seene Christ, brake forth & said, Lord, now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace, &c. foresignifying no doubt, that he should ende his daies in all manner of peace. As for them which are tempted, though their case be verie troublesome and perplexed, yet their saluation is not further off, by reason of the violence and extremitie of temptation. For God is then present by the vnspeakeable comfort of his spirit, and when wee are most weake, he is most strong in vs: because his manner is to shew his power in weaknesse. And for this cause, euen in the time of death the deuill receiues the greatest foile, when he lookes for the greatest victorie.

The sixth objection is this. Violent and sudden death is a grievous curse, & of all evils which befall man in this life, none is so terrible: therefore it may seem, that the day of sudden death is most miserable. Ans. It is true indeed, that sudden death is a curse and a grievous judgement of God, and therefore not without cause feared of men in the world: yet all things considered, we ought more to be afraid of an impenitent and evil life, then of sudden death. For though it be evil, as death it self in his own nature is, yet we must not think it to be simply evil: because it is not evil to all men, nor in all respects evil. I say it is not evil to all men, considering that no kind of death is evil or a curse unto them that are in Christ, who are freed from the whole curse of the Law. And therefore the holy Ghost saith,